SAFETY


Tere is currently no standardisation


in regulations for BEV vehicles, meaning battery chemistries can vary. However, if BEVs are being used in situations that might structurally damage a battery or cause a vehicle fire, it’s important to take special considerations before and during their use.


INTRODUCING BEVS INTO MINING OPERATIONS Important questions to consider when introducing a BEV into your mining operations, include: are you aware of the BEV’s battery chemistry and the associated fire suppression techniques and are the mine maintenance personnel aware of the battery chemistry? It’s also worth asking whether the


necessary fire detection and suppression solution for the battery chemistry is installed in the BEV and whether operators are trained to appropriately respond should a fire occur.


Another key question is: do emergency


services have appropriate training and fire suppression equipment? When it comes to mixed fleets, to identify onboard battery chemistry in a BEV and select appropriate suppression techniques, two questions must be asked. Firstly, can the battery chemistry be identified quickly from a distance by emergency personnel? And secondly, have operators been trained to identify battery chemistry and the unique response they should take?


MINIMISING RISKS Alongside general best practice fire prevention measures implemented in mines, there are several key steps operators should take to minimise the risks.


RISK ASSESSMENT OEMS should incorporate certain control measures into the design of EV batteries


Fire supression systems can be retrofitted to vehicles


used in underground mines to ensure safe operation of the vehicle and minimise fire risk. Tey should also provide end users with the sufficient information to effectively implement emergency management strategies during a fire. Mine operators should ensure all new


processes and equipment are subjected to a full risk assessment before integration into a site’s operations. Tis assessment goes beyond considering vehicles and machinery in isolation and towards considering their use within the whole operating environment. Te assessment should additionally consider the risks posed by a battery’s chemistry throughout the battery’s lifecycle.


SELECT A SUPPRESSION SYSTEM THAT MEETS INDIVIDUAL RISKS Once these risks are identified, mine operators should ensure effective management by implementing additional control measures to ensure maximum safety. A fire suppression solution should be adapted to an individual site and its risks. Tis is especially important to ensure minimal false system activations.


Fire supression systems ready to be attached to mining vehicles


FIRE SUPPRESSION TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS Te fire suppression system in a BEV should be appropriate for the vehicle type and battery chemistry. Local mining regulations or site risk assessments might require automatically activated systems,


however, if a system is automatic, it should also be able to be manually activated by BEV operators. In addition, there should be fire-fighting information to train operators, electrical and mechanical personnel. For OEMs, integrating effective


fire suppression system into the manufacturing process will ensure the protection of BEVs and that relevant site regulations are met from the outset. For operators, appropriate fire suppression systems can be retrofitted into existing vehicles and machinery for maximum operations and maintenance safety. Maintaining vehicles’ fire suppression systems should be integrated into routine vehicle maintenance to service them as part of the machine rather than in isolation.


SAFEGUARDING THE MINING INDUSTRY’S FUTURE As the mining industry evolves at pace, adapting the existing processes and systems to meet the new and changing risks brought by BEVs is vital. A fire suppression solution should seamlessly integrate with the work environment to save lives and ensure the maximum operational uptime.


Marcello Sanchez is with Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection. www.dafo-vehicle.com


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